Police in the Australian state of New South Wales are investigating a threat to contaminate Snickers and Mars bars, they said today (Friday).


Food company Masterfoods has received three threatening letters since May, the force said. The letters do not contain any demands for money however the author directs a series of complaints to a third party.


Shortly before 9am today, Masterfoods received a third letter in which the author claims to have contaminated seven Snickers and Mars Bars, it said. A Snickers Bar was posted to Masterfoods Ballarat office last month and has been seized for scientific analysis.


Initial tests indicate the chocolate bar has been contaminated with an unidentified substance but tests are inconclusive and police are awaiting the results of further analysis.


There is no evidence of anyone having become ill as a result of this threat.

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Robbery and serious crime squad commander detective superintendent Peter Cotter said Strike Force Caliban was established to investigate the food contamination threat.


“This is a serious crime and we continue to dedicate all our resources and expertise to identifying and capturing this offender,” Cotter said.

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